Everything i eat or drink i throw up

If you find yourself feeling extremely full after eating only a small amount of food, or feeling nauseated and throwing up after eating, don't brush it off as indigestion or lack of appetite. These could be warning signs of a digestive condition called gastroparesis. While difficult to treat, a special gastroparesis diet can help to control symptoms.

Gastroparesis: What Is It?

Gastroparesis is a disorder in which the stomach empties extremely slowly — a meal that can be digested in about four hours in a healthy person may take days to empty out of the stomach of someone with gastroparesis, says Francisco J. Marrero, MD, a gastroenterologist with the Digestive Disease Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Gastroparesis results when the vagus nerve, which contracts the stomach to squeeze food further down the digestive tract, becomes damaged in some way.

Gastroparesis is an extremely rare condition, affecting only about 10 out of every 100,000 people, according to Dr. Marrero. The condition can be caused by:

• Infection
• Autoimmune disease
• Neuromuscular disease
• Radiation treatment
• Diabetes

Eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia may cause gastroparesis, but digestive function will typically return to normal once food intake returns to normal. Medication may cause similar symptoms, but they are usually only temporary.

Diabetes is one particularly big risk factor for this digestive condition. Long-term diabetes causes abnormalities in the nervous system, which can manifest as numbness and tingling in the fingertips or affect the nervous system in your bowels, says Marrero. High blood glucose, a problem with diabetics, can eventually weaken the vagus nerve.

Gastroparesis: Common Symptoms and Treatment

Beyond feeling full too fast and nausea and vomiting after eating, there are a few more symptoms to be aware of. More signs of gastroparesis include:

• Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fluctuating levels of blood glucose
• Pain in the top of the abdomen

Not only is gastroparesis difficult to treat and manage, it can't be cured. But some treatments can help reduce symptoms and discomfort. Treatment options include:

• Medication. Several types of medication can help the stomach to empty food a little faster. These include the antibiotic erythromycin and the gastrointestinal stimulant metoclopramide (Reglan, Maxolon). However, according to Marrero, people quickly become intolerant of the antibiotic, and metoclopramide can have serious side effects. He says doctors are now giving people anti-nausea medication.
• Changing your diet. Diet is one of the more effective ways to manage gastroparesis. Eating smaller, more frequent meals instead of a few large ones can help to alleviate symptoms of gastroparesis. People with serious symptoms may switch to an all-liquid or pureed diet since this may be easier to handle than solid foods. Skipping foods high in fat and fiber is also important in a gastroparesis diet.
• Tube feeding. Patients with severe cases may need to have a tube placed in their small bowel so they can keep down sustenance, notes Marrero. This tube, called a jejunostomy, bypasses the slow-emptying stomach and delivers nutrients directly to the small bowel to offer better nutritional value and fewer symptoms.
• Gastric electric stimulator. This small device is implanted via surgery and emits small pulses of electricity to reduce nausea and vomiting. However, Marrero says these devices are extremely expensive and may not reduce gastroparesis symptoms for everyone.

Gastroparesis is a tough condition to manage and can make eating difficult and uncomfortable. Not every treatment will work for everyone, but there are a variety of methods to try to manage gastroparesis. The type of treatment your doctor will recommend will be based on how severe the symptoms are, and how much pain and discomfort your gastroparesis causes.

• Common causes of nausea after eating include food allergies, stress, and pregnancy. 
• If your nausea lasts more than two days or is resistant to home remedies, see your doctor.
• To treat nausea after eating, chew ginger, drink cold water slowly, and limit your physical activity.

Most people have felt nauseous at some point in their life — the queasy, upset feeling in your stomach that may make you feel like vomiting.

For some, this uncomfortable sensation occurs after eating, usually 30 to 60 minutes following a meal, and it may last one to three hours, says Jesse P. Houghton, MD, FACG, the senior medical director of Gastroenterology at SOMC Gastroenterology Associates. 

If you do experience nausea after eating, here are seven of the most common causes and how to properly treat it. 

1. Pregnancy 

Nausea during pregnancy doesn't just happen in the morning, it can also occur after lunch, dinner, and snacks. 

That's because pregnant people produce the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which comes with nausea as a side effect. 

"The rise of estrogen or the change in the balance of the bacteria in the gut during pregnancy could be another reason nausea after eating increases," says Niket Sonpal, MD, an internist and gastroenterologist.

2. Food poisoning

It's well known that food poisoning can cause nausea. These foods are contaminated with either a virus or bacteria which disrupts the GI tract triggering nausea and, oftentimes, vomiting, says Houghton. 

Usually, bacteria that cause food poisoning die when exposed to temperatures higher than 140 degrees Fahrenheit. That's why pre-packaged and raw foods, like salad, fruits, and undercooked meat are common culprits of food poisoning since they're uncooked, says Sonpal. 

If you are also experiencing diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and stomach cramps, your nausea is most likely due to food poisoning. 

3. Food intolerances or allergies

When you eat something you are allergic or have an intolerance to, your body's immune system responds with chemicals, like immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine, that can cause symptoms such as nausea, says Sonpal.

The most common food allergies are:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Wheat
• Soy 
• Fish 
• Shellfish 
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts

If you think your nausea is due to an allergy, get tested by an allergist who can help you determine which foods may be to blame.

4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), aka acid reflux, occurs when stomach acid flows up into the esophagus, inflaming it, which can trigger nausea, says David D. Clarke, MD, a clinical assistant professor of Gastroenterology Emeritus and assistant director at the Center for Ethics at Oregon Health & Science University. 

If you are also experiencing heartburn, difficulty swallowing, chronic coughing, and disrupted sleep, your nausea may be due to GERD. 

Treatment for GERD includes: 

• Taking over-the-counter antacids, like Tums and Pepto Bismol. 
• Using prescription medication, like famotidine and cimetidine, reduces or blocks acid production.
• Undergoing surgery such as fundoplication, which wraps the upper part of the stomach around the esophagus, which strengthens the valve between the two organs. 

5. Irritable bowel syndrome 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the large intestine and causes symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and nausea. 

"There is no exact cause of an IBS flare-up. However, most symptoms, such as vomiting, tend to worsen after consuming food that is difficult to digest," says Sonpal. "Sometimes IBS nausea also occurs because of certain trigger foods, medications, or stress." 

Treatment for IBS includes: 

• Avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms 
• Regular exercise
• Drinking lots of fluids
• Removing foods that can cause gas like gluten or FODMAPs
• Taking a fiber supplement or laxative
• Starting an antidepressant

6. Gallbladder disease 

Most variations of gallbladder disease result in nausea after eating. That's because the organ works to push bile into the small intestine and help digestion. 

"If the flow of bile is obstructed, for example by a gallstone, the resulting stretch on the gallbladder or its associated ducts can lead to nausea," says Clarke. 

Other signs of gallbladder disease include: 

• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, 
• Fever
• Chills
• Pain on the right side of the abdomen 
• Dark urine 

If you experience any of the above symptoms, visit a doctor who can diagnose you and provide proper treatment. Gallbladder disease is rarely a life-threatening condition. 

7. Anxiety or stress 

As if stress and anxiety aren't enough to deal with on their own, these mental health issues can also cause gastrointestinal problems like nausea or diarrhea. 

"Stress hormones can affect how our GI tract contracts, either slowing it down or speeding it up," says Houghton. 

To determine if anxiety is causing your post-meal nausea, keep a journal of when you feel anxious and when you are nauseous. This way you can notice any patterns between the two. 

Techniques to reduce stress include:

• Meditation
• Breathing exercises
• Exercising regularly
• Setting realistic goals for yourself
• Working with a mental health professional

Insider's takeaway 

Factors such as pregnancy, IBS, and stress can cause people to become nauseous after eating. 

According to Clarke, you should see a doctor if:

• Your nausea lasts more than two days
• You're dehydrated due to diarrhea or vomiting
• You're vomiting longer than a day
• Home treatment isn't working
• You have worsening abdominal pain

If you are experiencing nausea after a meal, try chewing on ginger, slowly drinking cold water, or limiting your activity until the feeling passes. 

Sarah Fielding is a freelance writer covering a range of topics with a focus on mental health and women's issues. She is also the co-founder of Empire Coven, a space for highlighting trailblazing women across New York.

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